Pubdate: Mon, 27 May 2002
Source: Visayan Daily Star (Philippines)
Copyright: 2002 Visayan Daily Star
Contact:  http://dgte.mozcom.com/visayandailystar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1688
Author: Gilbert Bayoran

305 BRGYS IN REGION 6  AFFECTED BY DRUGS - PNP

The Police Regional Office 6 reported recently that 305 of the 4,058 
barangays in Western Visayas are seriously affected by the drug menace.

Of the 305 drug-affected barangays, 31 are in Negros Occidental, the police 
said.

Two-hundred-forty barangays were classified as seriously affected while 65 
others are threatened by the drug menace, Senior Supt. Isagani Cuevas, PRO 
6 Operations chief, said in his report to Western Visayas police director 
Rolando Garcia.

The supply of shabu and marijuana was traced by the police to Manila, Cebu 
and Mindanao with the cities of Bacolod, San Carlos, Dumaguete as reported 
entry points in Negros.

Cuevas also claimed to have neutralized 12 organized crime groups in 
provinces of Iloilo, Antique and Aklan since last year.

In the first five months of 2002, the Bacolod City Police Office registered 
the highest volume of confiscated drugs by seizing 900 grams of suspected 
shabu, worth P1.7 million, police reports said.

In the same period, the police in Western Visayas reported that it had 
arrested 355 drug peddlers in 276 operations.

Cuevas also reported that 31 illegal gambling financiers are operating in 
Region 6, with two in Bacolod City, 19 in Iloilo province and five in 
Iloilo City, five also in Aklan, two in Capiz and one in Guimaras.

Illegal gambling outfits in Negros Occidental have codenames like Camia, JJ 
Queen, Silver and Pagcor.

The Department of Interior and Local Government warned that it may strip 
mayors of administrative supervision over the police if they fail to 
eradicate illegal gambling operations in their areas.

After the closure of the jai-alai fronton in Metro Manila, PNP provincial 
director Geary Barias claimed a 75 percent reduction of illegal gambling 
operations in Negros Occidental.
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MAP posted-by: Beth